A 57-year-old man was walking home from work at 8.25pm when he was attacked by a man in Midgery Lane.

The victim was slashed in the abdomen with what police say was “some kind of knife or bladed implement”.

His £2,000 Rolex was stolen and the victim was taken to Royal Preston Hospital and treated for his injuries.

DC Jane Thomas of Preston CID said: “This was a particularly nasty and unprovoked attack and I urge anyone with any information at all to come forward.”

The attacker is described as white, thought to be in his late teens, approximately 5ft10 tall of an average build. He was wearing a black hooded top, black jogging pants and bright white high top training shoes .

The stolen watch was a gold coloured Rolex Datejust with a gold bezel and gold line down the centre of the bracelet (similar to the one pictured).

Anyone with information about the incident can contact Preston Police on 101 quoting log reference 1470 of 3rd August.

Alternatively, they can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at Crimestoppers-uk.org. No personal details are taken, information is not traced or recorded and you will not go to court.